Bertrand Borg
Bickle case: I warned of crisis
‘Door to door’ drug delivery
The prison authorities were repeatedly asked to adopt a comprehensive drug policy for Corradino Correctional Facility but “consistently denied” the request, the then-chairman of the Prison Board said.
Mario Felice recalled telling then-prison director Sandro Gatt and Tonio Borg, who was Home Affairs Minister at the time, that there was a pressing need for a comprehensive drugs policy for prison.
“Unfortunately, my warnings were consistently rejected by the prison authorities, who insisted there was no significant drug problem.
“What’s emerged in the past days is just a snapshot of some of the contradictions in the prison system, which I had warned about some years ago,” Dr Felice said yesterday.
His comments come after Mr Justice Michael Mallia made a damning assessment of the drug situation in prison when jailing Josette Bickle for 12 years for running a heroin racket in prison with impunity.
Mr Justice Mallia spoke of a “failed” prison system that allowed Ms Bickle to “operate with... impunity” and which indicated “collusion with the authorities”.
He even voiced suspicion that the prison authorities tolerated drug smuggling as a means of keeping inmates quiet.
The government said yesterday that “statements made are not a fair reflection of the actual scenario” within prison and that “accusations of complacency or inaction...are simply not borne out by the facts”.
The government had spoken in similar fashion last February, brushing aside Council of Europe concerns that the situation in prison encouraged “informal power structures” and “allowing a considerable amount of drug trafficking to take place within the prison”. The government insisted “there are no gang-type practices” in prison.
“The prison authorities consider that, at the moment, drug abuse and drug-trafficking, while effectively present within CCF, are relatively contained,” the government had said.
The government yesterday defended its drug control and rehabilitation methods within Corradino prison, pointing to a number of administrative reforms it had instituted.
It cited the 480 drug tests conducted on prisoners over an 18-month period between 2010 and 2011, saying that less than two per cent of those tested had resulted positive.
While the Bickle trial brought drug abuse within prison confines back into focus, witnesses described a system that suffered from various other malaises.
Witnesses in the trial spoke of a prison system in which Ms Bickle, as “queen”, was afforded special privileges and visitation rights and direct access to the-prison director, Mr Gatt. One witness even said she ran an efficient “door to door” drug delivery system.
Although yesterday’s statement by the government spoke at length about efforts at curbing drug abuse in prison, a number of questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Home Affairs Ministry, Dr Borg and the police remained unanswered (see box).
Dr Felice had resigned as Prison Board chairman in 2008 in protest at the way in which the prison was being run by Mr Gatt. He subsequently declared that certain prison inmates received preferential treatment with the blessing of the Mr Gatt.
One prisoner, Leli “Il-Bully” Camilleri, was said to “run the show in prison”, with other inmates going through him to access certain prison facilities such as prison leave.
Witnesses testifying in the Bickle trial gave an identical picture of the situation in the women’s division.
Dr Felice’s comments in 2008 led to Mr Gatt resigning as prison director and returning to the police force. The government subsequently announced an inquiry into prison maladministration in August of that year.
The inquiry recommendations were published in March 2009 but the government declined to make the report public, saying that to do so would prejudice police investigations such as that which led to the arraignment of Ms Bickle.
Unanswered questions
Questions to the OPM
1. Where does the political responsibility lie for this failure of the prison system?
2. What does the Prime Minister intend to do about it?
3. In the Prime Minister’s opinion, does the prison system require radical reform or is it a matter of tweaking certain policies?
4. Some years ago, an inquiry into prison maladministration was held. Its findings have never been published. Does the Prime Minister believe that it is in the public interest to keep the findings under wraps?
5. Does the Prime Minister feel let down by the people he entrusted to run the prison system during the time in question?
Questions to Home Affairs Ministry
1. Now that Josette Bickle has been sentenced and the proceedings concluded, will the findings of the inquiry into prison maladministration be made public?
2. Ms Bickle is now back in prison. What safeguards are being taken to ensure the same situation will not repeat itself?
3. Last February, the government had shrugged off Council of Europe concerns about “informal power structures... gang-type practices and... a considerable amount of drug trafficking...within the prison” by saying that “There are no gang-type practices (at Corradino prison)... at the moment, drug abuse and drug-trafficking, while effectively present within CCF, are relatively contained”. Does it stand by this statement?
Questions to Tonio Borg
1. Does Dr Borg, as Home Affairs Minister at the time, feel in any way responsible for this deterioration of the system?
2. If the minister was not made aware of the drug problem in prison, does he feel let down by the people he had entrusted to run the prison system at the time?
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j camilleri
Dec 17th 2011, 22:35
PM and his clan should be ashamed of themselves if they know how ... after ripping off the country with such high self pay rise during these bad times that is effecting everyone now, but what makes it even worse is that they left the ship sailing on it's own and now it's too late. I'm angry for myself that I have trusted in them and gave them my vote. Never again ! Seems the Queen of corradino has more power than this government !!!
D Borg
Dec 17th 2011, 14:40
Well done to TOM for bringing up these questions. Of course all eyes are now on the PM and his team. We want answers...not the sort of the "buck stops here" mind you!
The ruling party ministers are getting well paid now, so its our right to demand answers and actions.
Joseph Calleja
Dec 17th 2011, 15:08
As far as the "buck stops here" statement by the PM, that buck has long gone way past him and might even be out of reach. Is anybody from this administration ever going to accept responsibility for anything, except for an Honoraria Pay Raise and and a 500 euro per week Pay Raise? "The buck stops here" Ooooooops!
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Dec 17th 2011, 14:12
The TOM did a good job about this exposure and it should keep the pressure up till justice is seen to be done.
The government is guilty--full stop! All the shouting and preachings of a christian conscience during the divorce debate was nothing but a show; scam and hypocrital.
Read it again:
The government had spoken in similar fashion last February, brushing aside Council of Europe concerns that the situation in prison encouraged “informal power structures” and “allowing a considerable amount of drug trafficking to take place within the prison”. The government insisted “there are no gang-type practices” in prison.
Joseph Calleja
Dec 17th 2011, 15:12
"The government insisted “there are no gang-type practices” in prison. And if they believe that, I will gladly sell them that igloo I own in the middle of the Sahara Desert? How pathetic !
charles tabone
Dec 17th 2011, 14:05
Now, rather than posing questions to Dr JM, would they kindly have the guts to answer the questions put forward? Or do they feel so superior as if they live in UTOPIA? If there was no respect for Dr Felicie, I honestly wonder who this government respects, apart from henchmen and criminals.
Tghidu forsi li Dottor Felice huwa CUC?
Peter Shaw
Dec 17th 2011, 13:53
Long live the Queen (of Corradino) !
alfred seguna
Dec 17th 2011, 13:47
What's the fuss.One scandal makes you forget the other.Now it is Xmas time and next scandal will make you forget this one.Long were the days when men were men.No accountability no responsibility and Hurrah for the 5oo Euros which were given by the prime minister although admitting that his colleagues don't have the required standard.The only two ministers who resigned although in my opinion they shouldn't have are DR.GATT and DR.MANGION.I think that Malta is the only E U country where we should remove these words from the vocabulary :ACCOUNTABILITY ,RESPONSIBILITY and RESIGNATIONS.Citizens have no examples to follow.
Robert Pace Bonello
Dec 17th 2011, 12:57
This must not be allowed to die a natural death. The public is very, very angry now but will soon forget. The politicians know this fully well. The pressure must be kept till all the questions raised by the TOM are satisfactorily answered. The Times has a duty to keep this matter alive, perhaps one day 'accountability' will mean something in this Country
Joseph Calleja
Dec 17th 2011, 15:14
All I have to say is Hoss fl-ilma. (Dream On).
Jimmy Magro
Dec 17th 2011, 12:35
These answers must be sought in Parliament which is the highest institution of the land.
There is also the Social Committee of the House that should fry all those responsible for a booming drug supermarket in prison and around Malta and Gozo.
George Azzopardi
Dec 17th 2011, 12:34
The most serious problem of this government is .. NO ACCOUNTABILITY!!!
john vella
Dec 17th 2011, 12:02
Question to the voters
Do we the tax payers and voters need to look forward and to vote for another FIVE years of the same?
john vella
Dec 17th 2011, 12:36
Charles Sammut
With such an opposition what can go right?
Charles Sammut
Dec 17th 2011, 18:26
This is why I keep on harping on...that it is up to US..the VOTERS, to do things right!
The present regime is corrupt and unaccountable...the Opposition is useless...so let's get off our arses and do something about it!!!
Let us get organised and make these crooks accountable!!!
..let us not let...the beat go on......
Charles Busuttil
Dec 17th 2011, 11:52
It think it will be interesting if Peppi Azzopardi were to iyvite the PM, the Home Affairs Minister and Dr. Tonio Borg to one of his Xarabank programmes. In this was we will be able to get their reaction and answers about this whole sordid affair straight from the horses' mouth.
Charles Sammut
Dec 17th 2011, 11:28
any resignations or sackings in the offing!???,,,pigs will fly first all over the island in the sun!!
Hi Joseph Muscat, any comments or thoughts about this shameful saga??
Have you any comments or thoughts about the Euro20,000,000.00 VAT Fraud??
Any comments about Tonio Fenech and Montebello brothers?
Any thoughts about how you will change the Laugh Court of the island into a serious Justice Court?
Listen mate, if you are serious about having a good showing in the forthcoming elections, these are the issues you should be demanding answers for and focusing your energy upon! So, by keeping mum about these very important scandals that the voting public is demanding answers for, you are telling us that you are not capable to run a grocery store, let alone a country!!
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on....
...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on......
Joseph Calleja
Dec 17th 2011, 15:20
Yes Dr Muscat, what do you have to say about all these scandals? How come so mum? What do you intend to do about all this government corruption? The people need to know before they can vote for you and your party. The people are waiting for you to make a commitment, one way or the other. Speak up Joseph Muscat.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Dec 17th 2011, 11:26
Roll up Roll up the scandal circus is back in town. Don't expect any resignations or plausible answers Mr Bertrand Bord. If only our politicians had been true circus clowns we would at least have enjoyed aiming a couple of custard pies and sounding some childlike rasberries. But they are all acrobats and high trapeze artists who just provide us with ephemeral outrage and divertissment and just sit on hands until the ringmaster and his band announce the next performer act for our attention to be turned to the next thrilling scandal ephemeral..
Charles Sammut
Dec 17th 2011, 14:13
The sad and unfortunate state of affairs is, that we the voting public are the clowns! We whinge and moan about the corruption, the ineptness,the arrogance and the unaccountability which is so deeply rooted in this aligonziPN regime ....but we fail to do anything concrete to oust wenzu and his den of thieves out of Castille!
I once was asked if I knew the difference between the Arabs and the Maltese...I did'nt..but was told that the Maltese wear shoes?!?!?
However I DO know the difference now!!
The Arabs had the guts to get rid of their yoke....
....and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......
Francis Sammut
Dec 17th 2011, 11:20
For the above questions I wouldn't hold my breath in getting any answers soon! Nothing knew in all that. Whatever happens in this country and the government is found to be wanting, what does it do, bury its head in the sand and pretend that nothing wrong is happening whatever the Council of Europe might say or Dr. Felice thinks, it keeps refuting that which is only obvious. All indications show that the prison is not being run professionally whatever the government might say. Starting with Mr. Gatt who had to resign as prison director then Dr. Felice who was not given heed to and likewise had to resign and go back into the police force. Now Tonio Borg the then minister responsibile is negating he knew about the precarious drug problem! If I am to be asked who to believe, I think you already have the answer to that!
Mr Lawrence Mifsud
Dec 17th 2011, 11:18
My question is: Are the inmates, who are inside for minor offences, and who are doing their best to come out clean, protected from such bad influence around them?
vincent a galea
Dec 17th 2011, 11:09
AND ALL THIS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT PRETENDS TO BE MORE CATHOLIC THAN THE POPE!!!
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD !!!!!!!!!
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Dec 17th 2011, 11:08
Time to call an election dear Prime Minister. You failed Malta and especially your party..... viva l gustizzja....
Carmel Gatt
Dec 17th 2011, 11:04
Ghaliex il van ta' CCF juza is-sirena biex jiehu il-prigunieri il Qorti ? Lanqas il-President. Jew forsi ikollhom xi Re jew Regina abbord ?
Joseph Grima
Dec 17th 2011, 10:49
I do not intend to comment on this frightening case because the serious consclusions that should be drawn from it have already been clearly thumped home by the learned Judge. I want to make just one point. The Times did not identify the reporter who formulated the list of pointed, unanswered questions to the Prime Minister and to the former Minister responsible for the Prisons. I may be wrong but in my oipinion, coming from the Times stable, this journalist has broken new ground. There were times (pardon the pun), I would say times that ran into decades, when the Times would have been viewed by people from the left side of politics, as the defender of the Establishment and as a corporate PN apologist. That may not have been considered as reflecting the absolute truth from the Times standopoint but the impression, strong as it was, was certainly there. It is clear to me from this list of questions that, if not the Times as a corporate entity, at least within its structures there are journalists who are seeing through the Government's fake facades and who will prod where it is neccessary in the public interest. I sincerely hope that this is not a one-off but one of a series of attempts to disclose what remains hidden from public view and to debunk the rewards from the privilege of economising with the truth enjoyed by the power of incumbency over the unsuspecting, sometimes too-trusting, general public. This country is falling apart at the seams. On one side there is a boasting government, a Prime Minsiter who constantly flies the flag that we are better off than many other European countries. On the other side there is reality, stark but secluded from public view. As has happened time and time again before, that reality will be exposed and will have to be faced by the Government that will replace the current one. It is not a given that we have to wait for what's left before the next election to get to the truth on vital issues that affect the livelihoods of the people of this country. Journalists have a responsibility to act in the name of and to safeguard the public interest from those who have the power and the means to safeguard their own interests first. There should be a system, in defence of the collective national good, that the payment of dues to accountability should not be just an excercise to be conducted at election time. The role of journalists who put the public first is there to be exercised every hour of every day of the year.
Peter Shaw
Dec 17th 2011, 10:46
Heads must roll!!!
Joseph N. Attard
Dec 17th 2011, 10:42
If the Nationalist Party in Government has any collective sense, it must realize that the Bickle affair has dealt its aspirations for re election a heavy blow. Doing nothing is not an option. Mending some of the vast damage done requires immediate tangible action that at least quenches the people's thirst for justice.
Victor Borg
Dec 17th 2011, 10:21
I think our prime minister and his ministers think that we are fools and ready to believe whatever they dish out i thought by joining the EU, running the country will be much better but i am so mistaken.
Tony DeBattista
Dec 17th 2011, 10:10
MISTOQSIJA OHRA PLS. TAHSEB LIL MINISTRU RESPONSABLI HAQQU 500 EURO ZIDA FIL-GIMGHA?
Mr Johann Mifsud
Dec 17th 2011, 10:08
Questions to Tonio Borg
1. Does Dr Borg, as Home Affairs Minister at the time, feel in any way responsible for this deterioration of the system?
Mela fdan il-pajjiz huwa responsabli xi hadd, mhux diga qal li m'ghandux xjaqsam
2. If the minister was not made aware of the drug problem in prison, does he feel let down by the people he had entrusted to run the prison system at the time?
Ovvjament li xi hadd ha jehel biex il-htija jfarfara min fuqu
V. Cauchi
Dec 17th 2011, 09:57
Would it be too harsh to expect a cabinet reshuffle over the weekend?
When the Prime Minister was interviewed a couple of days after the last general elections he said he was NOT expecting that election victory. Might that be the reason for this soft-pedalling approach to national matters of the highest importance? In that case, it is the duty of the President of the Republic to intervene. I believe our Constitution never meant him to be just a figurehead.
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 17th 2011, 10:30
@Cauchi.
Reshuffle will only move around the snoozing inefficency, what is needed is a change of mentality more pep and zip and responsabiity and the need for clean politics i.e. a change of government.
j brincat
Dec 17th 2011, 09:48
The questions will remain unanswered and NO resignations whatsoever will come about with everybody playing the proverbial three monkeys.
At the end of the day we live in Malta once labelled as the Mickey Mouse country. What more can you expect with such a title!
(jb)
Peter Shaw
Dec 17th 2011, 09:43
Konna u ghadna nghixu f'pajjiz tal-.....!!!!
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 17th 2011, 09:36
So much for Minister Tonio Borg denying all knowledge of everything! He had information and he ignored it. There is only one step left - the exit door as quickly and as smoothly as possible. As for ex-Director Sandro Gatt - are any steps being taken against him? What were his relationships with other prison inmates besides Bickle? Were any of these relationships extended to beyond and outside the prison walls and were innocent and gullible third parties involved? Are the Police investigating?
ALBERT FENECH
Tonio Bone
Dec 17th 2011, 09:32
So a storm has been kicked up and hopefully this may lead to a comprehensive overhaul of our prison system. Don't expect heads to roll as that is not within maltese culture....our culture is to brush it all under the carpet.....that is, if it's not your or me on the firing line!
I have a feeling we are destined to read more compelling stories of what goes on behind the high walls of Corradino......I really do hope the Prime Minister does not have to take this under his wing as well.....!
The sequence of events that are now unfolding call for a major revue of Corradino! No need for more time wasting and responsability shifting! We demand to have a just a correctional not recreational prison facility!